About 4.5 million Americans were bitten by dogs in the United States last year. Roughly half of them were children and another large number was U.S. Postal Service workers.

According to the report from the Insurance Information Institute, Minnesota is ninth when it comes to dog bite claims.

There were 120 claims last year, costing $4 million in payouts.

California was No. 1 with 449 claims.

Experts say the most effective way to prevent dog bites is not to ban certain breeds of dog, but to raise awareness of canine behavior through education, as well as encouraging responsible dog ownership.